The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs lost a good amount of talent this offseason. It is impossible to keep everyone around, so they had to make some difficult decisions that led to key contributors no longer being a part of the roster.
One of those key contributors that were on the move was defensive end, Frank Clark. The two sides attempted to negotiate a restructured deal, but when nothing could be agreed upon, he was released. Clark remains a free agent and is arguably the best player remaining on the open market.
Replacing someone of Clark’s caliber won’t be easy. The Chiefs have invested heavily in the position in recent drafts, selecting George Karlaftis with their first-round pick in 2022 and Felix Anudike-Uzomah with their first-rounder in 2023. Karlaftis will certainly see an increased role this upcoming season and Anudike-Uzomah will have his opportunities as well.
But, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to bring in some more help to replace Clark. One name that has been floated around is Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings. The team has recently made Hunter available for trade and a few teams have emerged as landing spots.
Tyler Forness of Vikings Wire believes the Chiefs are a top potential landing spot for Hunter. However, making a deal for him won’t be easy.
“Not only will they have to give up significant [draft] capital for Hunter, but they will also have to compensate him more than the $4.9 million he is slated to make this year.”
The Chiefs had to let a lot of players walk in free agency because of a salary crunch. Taking on someone’s contract worth $4.9 million and seeking a raise would certainly take some salary cap gymnastics to pull off. Alas, if they were going to do all of that work, a player of Hunter’s caliber is worth doing it for.
The 2015 third-round pick has been a devastating pass rusher throughout his career with four double-digit sack seasons in his career. He had 10.5 last season and is one of the premier pass rushers the league has to offer. However, would acquiring Hunter and signing him to a long-term deal be a worthwhile investment for the Chiefs?
After using their last two first-round picks on pass rushers, one of them could be relegated to the bench with a Hunter arrival. Not to mention, their salary cap situation would be more dire as well. If Kansas City wants to bolster their pass rush, a veteran that can fill a reserve role, such as Jerry Hughes of the Houston Texans or free agent Justin Houston, would make a lot more sense.
